Door latch



April 26, 1966 w. s. TURNER 3,248,141

DOOR LATCH Filed March 22, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l fw/. T

2 FIG.

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DOOR LATCH Filed March 22, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WN V 3 Oft 3e 2O l 22 l I8 l /IG I FIG. 2

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ATTORNEYS 3,248,141 DooR LATCH A Walter S. Turner, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to Lake This invention relates to the field of door latches gen-- erally, and is more particularly directed to the field of latches for use on lightweight doors.

In general, the invention herein disclosed is directed toa door latch which may be locked and unlocked from the inside through the use of a locking handle. It further includes a novel protective feature whichV positive.- ly prevents a person from accidentally locking himself out. In its broadest sense the invention relates to a novel door latch arrangement which is so constructed and designed so as to require a minimum number of components, thereby reducing the overall cost of the completed assembly. The simplicity in design lends itself to economical installation as will be seen. The design of the individual components in the completed assembly is such, that they may be manufactured by economical methods, such as casting, without subsequent machining being required. Further, the components are of such durable construction so as 'to endure the repeated shocks and rugged use throughout the anticipated life of the door.

Various types of door latches have been `presented to the art previously; however, the shortcomings of such constructions have not gone unnoticed. One disadvantage of prior art latches resided in the di'iculty of installation. The complexity of the structure materially increased the cost of manufacture and assembly of the finished unit. Other prior art latches,I due to their design, required a multiplicity of parts which not only added tothe manufacturing cost, but presented many potential' points of failure.

The novel latch of the instant invention has reduced the number of working parts to a bare minimum Without detriment to the smooth and Vetiicient operation of the latch. 4Moreover, the reduced number of parts and their simplicity in design has severely reduced the manufacturing and assembly cost without impairment to the overall quality of the product. In achieving the above advantages, several features worthy of note were incorporated. For example, notwithstanding the simplicity of the novel latch, it provides the necessary protective features to prevent one from being accidentally locked out once he has passed through the door.

It is, therefore, a general object of this invention to provide a new and improved door latch. l

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved door latch which requires a minimum number of components.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved door latch which is designed so as to facilitate ease in the manufacture of the components thereof.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a new and improved door-latch which is designed to facilitate economical assembly.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a novel latch containing a novel locking arrangement which presents accidental locking.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a new and improved door latch which may be installed by unskilled labor.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a new and improved door latch which will be capable of United States Patent C)v enduring repeated shocks and withstanding rugged use for the life of the door assembly.

Further and fuller objects will become readily apparent when reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like parts.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a -door frame and door rail illustrating the outside handle assembly of the door latch;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a View taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

' FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the spindle;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a View taken along line7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the inside housing; and

FIG. 9 is a view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. l illustrates a fragmentary portion of a frame 10 adjacent a fragmentary portion of a rail 11 of a door.

A fragmentary portion of the storm door glass is illustrated at 13; however, as is well known, a screen insert may be used in lieu thereof. An outside handle assembly is indicated generally at 14, including an outside hous` ing 15 and movable handle portion indicated generally at 16. The handle 16 is provided with a grip 17, integral pivots indicated by dotted lines 18, and Vstop indicated in dotted lines at 19.

As is seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the inwardly facing portion of the handle 16 contains a dome shaped or cam surface 20 for purposes to become apparent hereinafter. The outside housing 15 is provided with raised bosses 21 and 22 which project into preformed holes into the door rail. The bosses are suitably tapped to receive a suitable fastener such as theV bolts 23 and24. Suitable slots are provided in the housing 15 .to pivotably receive the pivots 18.

` The inside latch assembly is indicated generally at 25, including inside housing 26, latch bolt 27 and inside handle 28, which is pivotally attached to the inside housing 26 by means of a pin 29. Spindle 30 passes through a suitable aperture 31 in the door rail and is slidably carried by guide surface 32 in the outside housing and a guide surface indicated generally at 33 in the inside housing.

With particular reference to FIG. 5, the spindle 30 includes a pair of radially extending lugs 34V and 35, extending outwardly from `the periphery of the cylindrical spindle 30. A locking handle 36 is integral with the spindle 30 and includes a locking tab means 37 which is generally L-shaped as viewed in cross-section. The upstanding leg 38 of the L is of greater axial length than the base leg 39 for reasons hereinafter to become apparent.

With particular'reference to FIGS. v2-4 and 6-9, the inside handle construction will be described. The inside handle assembly includes the inside housing member 26 having a base including flanged portions 40 and 41, provided with suitable apertures to receive the bolts 23 and 24. An upstanding portion 43`extends from the flanged portions 40 and 41. Topographically viewed (FIG. 3), the upstanding portion is generally L-shaped, with the base of the L resting on the flanged portion. The upstanding portion 43 of the L as viewed in elevation is formed into a rectangular yslot 44 to receive the latch bo1t'27.

A generally cylindrical internal bore 45 is provided to receive the end portion of the spindle 30. The bore has radial slots 46 and 47 to slidably receive the lugs 34 and 35 on the spindle. A' lug locking groove 4S extends radially from the bore 45 to receive the lug when rotated out of the grooves 46. The slots 46 and 47 extend the length of the bore, whereas the lug locking groove 48 is of a depth approximately equal to the axial length of the upper lug 34 to allow reception of the latter thereinto on rotation of the spindle. The lower lug 35 rests on cam surface 49 when the upper lug 34 is rotated into the lug locking groove 48.

One side of the slot 46 is formed by a part of the main housing while the side 50 is formed by a cantilevered projection 51 which is triangular in cross-section. The projection 51 extends to the -inside portion of the housing, whereas the cam surface 49 terminates approximately in the same plane as the bottom of lug locking groove 48. It is readily apparent that reciprocation of the spindle may be effected only when the lugs 34 and 35 are aligned with the slots 46 and 47. When the lugs are rotated into the locking groove 48 and locking projection 49, the spindle is no longer free to move axially.

The upstanding portion 43 of the inside housing 26 is provided with arcuate grooves 52 and 53 to receive a pin or pivot to attach the handle to the assembly. The inside handle 28 is provided with a lever portion 54 to facilitate easy actuation thereof. The handle has a pair of bifurcations 55 and 56 which are spaced so as to slidably lit over the upstanding portion 43 of the housing. The outside dimension of the bifurcations 55 and' 56 allows sufficient clearance between the surfaces 77 and 78 in the base portion of the inside housing so that on assembly the handle may t therein to effect a finished appearance. The bifurcated portions 55 and 56 are provided with substantially perpendicular bearing surfaces 58 and 59 against which the lugs 34 and 35 on the spindle rests. A pair of internal grooves 60 and 61 on the bifurcated portions 55 and 56 extend angularly with respect to the axis of the spindle to provide cam surfaces, more clearly illustrated by the dotted line 62 in FIG. 3. Latch bolt 27 is provided with lugs 64 and 65 which are held in engagement with the cam surfaces 60 and 61 by a Wave spring 66. The spring 66 has a sinusoidal portion which allows it to be snap tted under the pin so as to be retained thereby. The spring, as it extends from the pin to the latch bolt, is generally S-shaped and acts against the rearmost portion of the latch bolt, tending to force the latch bolt outwardly. The single spring 66 serves to return the latch bolt and inside handle to the ready position once they have been released after actuation. The outside handle returns to the position shown in FIG. 2 by gravity when no external forces are applied.

The bifurcated portions 55 and 56 of the inside handle are provided with a shoulder 70 which'co-operates with the abutment surface 39 on the locking tab 37, as is shown in phantom in FIG. 7.

In operation, a person desiring to open the door from the outside pulls on the grip 17, thereby rotating the handle about the integral pivots 18. The cam surface 20 engages the end of the spindle 30, the force being transmitted to the lugs 34 and 35. The spindle moves in an axial direction with the lugs 34 and 35 in engagement with the bearing surfaces 57 and 58, respectively. Since the bearing surfaces 57 and 58 are offset with respect to the pivot 29, the inside handle will rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3. Rotation of the inside handle causes the cam surfaces 60 and 61 to'engage the lugs 64 and 65 on the latch bolt, thereby retracting the same against the force of the spring 66. Upon release of the handle, spring 66 urges latch bolt 27 outwardly with the lugs 64 and 65 acting on the cam surfaces 60 and 61 to cause the inside handle to rotate to the ready position shown in FIG. 3. While the handle is rotating to the at rest or door close position, the spindle is returned axially to the ready position due to the bearing surfaces acting on the lugs 34 and 35.

When the latch is actuated from the inside, a light force against the lever 54 of the inside handle rotates the handle assembly clockwise about the pivot 29 causing 4 2 the cam surfaces on the handle to coact with the lugs on the latch bolt 27,`retractiug the latch bolt against the force of the spring. Throughout this operation, the spindle remains at rest.

In the event it is desirable to lock the door, the locking tab 37 is moved to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. Two separate locking features are then per-` formed. The outside handle is locked since the lugs 34 and 35 on the spindle are misaligned with `respect to the slots 46 and 47. Any attempt to pull the outside handle upwardly will be without effect since the spindle 30 is locked against axial movement. Since the inside handle operates somewhat independently of the spindle, it would logically seem that the inside handle could be actuated.

However, the abutment 39 on the locking tab engages the i shoulder 70 on the handle thereby preventing movement of the inside handle.

As was true in prior art devices, often the locking assembly was designed so that it could be actuated by repeated jarring and/or gravity. It is to be appreciated that the lock-ing assembly of the instant invention remains uneffected by gravity or jarring movement since it is rotated upwardly against the force of gravity in order to effect a locking action. If the locking tab is accidentally moved to a position between that shown in phantom and in solid lines on FIG. 6, upon actuation of the door the arcuate surface 49 and a general arcuate surface on the lock-ing groove 48 causes the` locking spindle to rotate to the unlocked position. when the locking tab is somewhere between the locked and unlocked positions.

are locked against movement and it becomes necessary to manually move the tab to the unlocked position before the latch bolt can be withdrawn.

Accidental locking is virtually impossible with the present construction since the locking tab is positioned between the inside handle and the door. Due to the handle being a push type, there will be no tendency to grip the lever portion of the inside handle which could result in accidental locking. It is obvious that the instant modification'is capable of changes residing within the i spirit and `scope of the invention such as provision of a panic bar or the like.

Factory assembly of the latch for distribution consists of inserting the latch bolt 27 in the groove 44, placing the inside handle 28 over the inside housing and inserting the pin or pivot 29. The edges of the grooves 52 and 53 are swaged over to hold the pin in place and the spring is snapped into place.

The latch may be installed on the door rail by boring three holes to receive the two fasteners and the spindle.`

The outside handle assembly is placed on the frame, the spindle is inserted and the inside handle assembly is positioned and joined thereto as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.`

ing, handle means pivotably carried by said housing,`

latch bolt means slidably carried by said housing, said latch Ibolt having means thereon to co-operatively engage a cam surface on said handle means, spindle means slidably carried lby said inner and outer handle assemblies, said spindle means having lug means thereon adjacent an end portion, slot means in said housing to slidably receive said lug means, means connected to said However, this can only occur` When the locking tab is moved to the locked position, both the inner and outer handle` It is not intended that this be limit,

spindle to rotate said spindle' and said lugs with lrespect to said slot means thereby locking said spindle against longitudinal movement, and bearing means carried by said handle adapted to co-operate with said lug means,v

said spindle to rotate said lugs includes locking tab means shaped to fit a (zo-operating shoulder on said inside handle, said locking tab means engaging said shoulder when said lug means and spindle are rotated with respect to said slots thereby locking said inside handle against movement.

3. The door latch of claim 1, wherein said inner handle assembly includes an inside housing, slot means in said housing adapted to receive said lugs when said handle is in the unlocked position, and locking groove means in said housing adapted to receive said spindle lug means when said spindle is rotated with respect to said slots.

4. A door latch comprising inner and outer handle assemblies, said assemblies having spindle means extending therebetween, said inner assembly including an inside housing, a latch bolt slidably received in said housing, inside handle means pivotably carried by said housing, means on said inside handle means to slidably engage said latch bolt so that pivoting of said handle retracts said bolt, said inside handle means further having bearing means thereon adapted to co-operate with lug means provided on said spindle, said inside housing having a cylindrical bore to receive said spindle, slot means adjacent said lbore to receive said lug means on said spindle, and locking groove means extending from said bore, said locking groove means adapted to receive said lug means when said lug means is rotated with respect to said slots.

5. The door latch of claim 4, wherein said locking groove means is of a depth approximately equal to the axial length of the co-operating portion of said lug means.

6. The door latch of claim 4, wherein said locking groove means is provided with an arcuate surface adjacent said slots, whereby actuation of said handle when said locking handle is between the locked and unlocked position results in the locking handle moving to the unlocked position.

7. In a door latch an outer-handle assembly and an inner handle assembly, said assemblies adapted to be attached to each other through ia door frame, said outer handle assembly having a handle thereon, spindle means ,carried by said assemblies and slidable therebetween,

said spindle means having radially extending lug means thereon, said inner handle assembly including a pivotable handle, said handle having bearing means thereon to engage said lug means, said inner handle further having cam means thereon adapted to co-operate with lug means on a latch bolt, said latch bolt being slidably carried by said inner handle assembly, and means to rotate said spindle thereby to lock said inner and outer handle assemblies including a locking handle having a locking tab thereon, said locking tab having an abutment thereon to interiit with a shoulder on said inside handle thereby to prevent movement of said handle.

8. A door latch comprising inner and outer handle assemblies, said assemblies having spindlemeans extending therebetween, said inner assembly including an inside housing, a latch bolt slidably received in said housing, inside handle means pivotably carried by said housing, means on said inside handle means to slidably engage said latch bolt so that pivoting of said inside handle means retracts said bolt, said inside handle means further having bearing means thereon'adapted to co-operate with lug means provided on said spindle, a locking handle connected to said spindle, locking tab means carried by said locking handle to engage shoulder means on said inside handle means thereby to lock said handle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,924,898 8/ 1933 Anderson 292-166 2,012,732 8/ 1935 Schmidgall 292-227 2,504,483 4/1950 'Abraham 292-166 2,732,238 1/ 1956 Domberg 292-108 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner. M. HENsoN wooD, in., Examimzr.V 

4. A DOOR LATCH COMPRISING INNER AND OUTER HANDLE ASSEMBLIES, SAID ASSEMBLIES HAVING SPINDLE MEANS EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, SAID INNER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN INSIDE HOUSING, A LATCH BOLT SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAID HOUSING, INSIDE HANDLE MEANS PIVOTABLY CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING, MEANS ON SAID INSIDE HANDLE MEANS TO SLIDABLY ENGAGE SAID LATCH BOLT SO THAT PIVOTING OF SAID HANDLE RETRACTS SAID BOLT, SAID INSIDE HANDLE MEANS FURTHER HAVING BEARING MEANS THEREON ADAPTED TO CO-OPERATE WITH LUG MEANS 